Dermoscopic Image Digital Post-Processing Perception and Use Among Members of theInternational Dermoscopy Society: Results of a Web-based Survey
Keywords:
dermatoscopy, image enhancement, image processing, image interpretation, diagnostic imagingAbstract
Introduction: Speculatively, digital image post-processing (DIPP) enhances diagnostic accuracy in dermoscopy.
Objective: We aimed to investigate the advantages and limitations of DIPP, as well as its perceived reliability and safety.
Methods: In this study we investigated perception and use of DIPP among members of the International Dermoscopy Society through a web-based survey with 17 questions focusing on: (I) demographics (sex, age, nationality, specialty, professional experience in dermoscopy), (II) application of digital dermoscopy, (III) imaging devices, (IV) DIPP software usage, (V) area of DIPP application (e.g., neoplastic dermatoses or inflammoscopy), preference over manual or automatized DIPP, (VI) personally adjusted parameters, (VII) perceived reliability and safety of DIPP, and (VIII) an open comment section.
Results: A total of 360 respondents (64 countries) completed the survey. While 91.7% of respondents reported capturing dermoscopic images during examination, only 22.4% of them declared using DIPP. We have demonstrated that DIPP was used more commonly with smartphones, rather than video dermatoscopes or digital cameras and for dermoscopy of neoplastic dermatoses rather than inflammoscopy. Respondents tended to adjust image parameters manually. The perceptions of its usefulness and safety were good, even though slight variability across geographic regions was observed.
Conclusion: Given that no regulations for DIPP exist, healthcare professionals involved with dermoscopic image acquisition and archiving may require special training to responsibly implement DIPP in their practices.
References
Braun RP, Marghoob A. High-Dynamic-Range Dermoscopy Imaging and Diagnosis of Hypopigmented Skin Cancers. JAMA Dermatol. 2015;151(4):456-457. DOI:10.1001/jamadermatol.2014.4714 PMID: 25535875.
Cherepkova O, Hardeberg JY. Enhancing dermoscopy images to improve melanoma detection. In: 2018 Colour and Visual Computing Symposium (CVCS);2018:1-6. DOI:10.1109/CVCS.2018.8496604
Mello-Román JC, Vázquez Noguera JL, Legal-Ayala H, et al. Dermoscopy Images Enhancement via Multi-Scale Morphological Operations. Appl Sci 2021;11:9302. DOI:10.3390/app11199302
Voloshynovych M, Girnyk G, Chmut V, et al. Application of Machine Learning Technologies to Improve the Diagnostic Value of Dermatoscopy, Combined with Digital Photo-fixation of Skin Neoplasms. Dermatol Pract Concept 2022;12:e2022181. DOI:10.5826/dpc.1204a181 PMID: 36534544
Kittler H. Dermatoscopic-pathological correlation of melanocytic skin lesions. Hautarzt 2018;69:528-535. DOI:10.1007/s00105-018-4204-8 PMID: 29876611
Errichetti E, Zalaudek I, Kittler H, et al. Standardization of dermoscopic terminology and basic dermoscopic parameters to evaluate in general dermatology (non-neoplastic dermatoses): an expert consensus on behalf of the International Dermoscopy Society. Br J Dermatol 2020;182:454-467. DOI:10.1111/bjd.18125 PMID: 31077336
Chan N, Charette J, Dumestre DO, Fraulin FO. Should ‘smart phones’ be used for patient photography? Plast Surg 2016;24:32-34. PMID: 27054136
Conforti C, Lallas A, Argenziano G, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dermatology Practice Worldwide: Results of a Survey Promoted by the International Dermoscopy Society (IDS). Dermatol Pract Concept 2021;11:e2021153. DOI:10.5826/dpc.1101a153 PMID: 33614221
Zoltie T, Blome-Eberwein S, Forbes S, et al. Medical photography using mobile devices. BMJ 2022;378:e067663. DOI:10.1136/bmj-2021-067663 PMID: 36028231
Lee KJ, Finnane A, Soyer HP. Recent trends in teledermatology and teledermoscopy. Dermatol Pract Concept 2018;8:214-223. DOI:10.5826/dpc.0803a13 PMID: 30116667
Number of mobile devices worldwide 2020-2025. Statista. Accessed October 14, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/245501/multiple-mobile-device-ownership-worldwide/
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Marian Voloshynovych, Paweł Pietkiewicz , Cristián Navarette-Dechent , Aimilios Lallas , John Paoli , Harald Kittler , Ashfaq A. Marghoob, Mohamad Goldust, Jacek C. Szepietowski , Iris Zalaudek , Thomas M. Beachkofsky, Caterina Longo , Cliff Rosendahl , Norbert Kiss, Giuseppe Argenziano, Mohammad Jafferany, Agnieszka Leszczyńska-Pietkiewicz, Natalia Salwowska, Nataliia Matkovska
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Dermatology Practical & Conceptual applies a Creative Commons Attribution License (CCAL) to all works we publish (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Authors retain the copyright for their published work.
How to Cite
Share
